Top 5

I think top 5 annoying things about living here are:

1. Women and men grabbing at me to touch my white skin.  I don't really understand why they keep doing this.  I have been living here for weeks, and word has spread like wildfire that I am from NZ.  Regardless, I keep getting manhandled and I still don't like it.
2. Having "BOOLAY" shouted everywhere you go.  I realise that I'm different from everyone here, but I guess the thing about being a global traveler is that for me, I long to "blend in".  I want to be a part of the community, and be seen as just another person walking down the street.  When the kids and adults point and shout "BOOLAY!" it makes me realise how I am not one of them and I can never be.  That realisation bums me out a bit, because when it comes down to it I do think we're all the same.
3. Getting charged 3 times what locals get charged.  I get stressed out about this the most because H and I worked really hard to get rid of our debt, and save money while we were preparing to live in Indonesia for 6 months. We're well into our careers, and we have goals and dreams and hopes, and a lot of that takes money.  It is hard to understand if someone wants to know you for you, help you to help, or because they want money and for you to pay for them.  Life is heaps cheaper than in NZ, but we aren't making any money, and we aren't getting any financial support for our work.
4. Not being fluent at the language. I hate having limited ways to communicate with people. It makes me feel claustrophobic, inept and stuck.  I am trying to pick up words and phrases, and I study the language every day through podcasts, but I still find it difficult without the structured learning of a class.  I also dislike the idea of being a typical English speaker and just expecting everyone to speak English to me.
5. Having to wear pants and t-shirts all the time even when you are swimming.  I hate not having the freedom to wear whatever I like, however I like to wear it.  In NZ, I really hate wearing suits and boots, and prefer jandals and jeans and clothes that make me feel good.  Here I always wear the same sort of thing.  And on Sunday when we went swimming for the first time, I was waterlogged from swimming in the same clothes that I was wearing.

Top 5 awesome things are:

1. Having the ability at this time in my life to spend 6 months with my partner, volunteering in Indonesia is awesome.  We learn more about each other and get to share lots of really special moments together.  I don't think many people get to do this because of career, children,  commitments, fear.  It is a really wonderful time in our lives that I feel very privileged to experience.
2. I want to be a famous actress, and I also want to work in the NGO/Not for Profit/Helping people sector.  I'm really tired of big business as what I've found is that there is a huge lack of humanity. I am lucky to be able to take this time, and think more about what I want to do, and get some experience working for an NGO.  I've volunteered all my life, but that has always been on the side.  This is now a full time gig.
3. I'm stoked to be learning new things through language and culture.  Indonesia is such a vast and amazing country.  There are so many ethnicities within Indonesia, and so many ways the people express themselves culturally.  The food in Pariaman is known for being spicy... and it is delicious!  The language here is called Bahasa Minang, and it differs from Bahasa Indonesia.  I love learning more about people through food, language and culture.  And I love having those "WOO HOO!" moments when you can express yourself effectively in another language.
4. Right now, the kids in the neighbourhood and my next door neighbour are godsends.  The kids are just so lovely and protective and inviting.  They check in to see if I'm around to play, and I love it.  Kids are just the best.  So free and sweet and kind.  My neighbour is a sweet heart too, she has an 18 month old baby, and she's just really lovely and comes over to have a chat.  I feel really stoked about where we are living and the community.
5. I'm loving getting to help people.  I don't feel like I am using my full ability at the moment, but I am doing what I can do.  Hopefully as the weeks go by, the team will involve me more and more.